Description and Analysis of Pharmacogenomics

Pharmacogenomics is the study of variation of humans genomes and how they are affected by a response to medications, due to heredity, that would be tailor-made to adapt to a person or population genetic make up to lessen drug caused morbidity. Pharmacogenetics, which is an older term, was constructed from the words pharmacology and genetics, which now indicates the intersections of pharmaceuticals and genetics. The vision of pharmacogenomics offer a safer and more effective drugs, where more persons and populations use drug therapies which will increase he influence of drug-development clinical trials and products used in clinical practice. (Mordini 2004) Patient’s selection must be evidence base in the testing of pharmacogenomics in order to avoid genetic profiling, discrimination, stigmatization or distributive injustice. The testing of pharmacogenomics supplies information that could assist with the decision of treatment options for patients. Physician cannot influence patients decisions based on their own opinions. (Ndegwa 2007)

Aside from ethical issues there are also social and legal issues. Social issues form pharmacogenomics testing could possible lead to unfair treatment or undesirable outcome such as health discrepancy, due to medical cover compared to others. Legal issues include how these pharmacogenomics affect is being translated into practice. Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Acted passed in 2008 protects Americans from discrimination on the basis of genetic information for health insurance and employment purposes. Along with these three issues there are also economic issues that compare whether the person would take full responsibility for billing of the pharmacogenomics testing or if the insurance ...

... middle of paper ...

...(2009 Dec): 36-48. 15(12).

Mordini, Emilio. Ethical considerations on pharmacogenomics. Vol. 49. El Sevier, 2004. 4 vols. 22 March 2014. .

Ndegwa, S. "Pharmacogenomics and warfarin therapy." Issues in Emerging Health Technologies (2007): 1-8. Journal.

Paige, Leslie Z. "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder." Characterized by repeated behaviors intended to control recurring anxieties, obsessive-compulsive disorder probably affects at least on of your students. (September 2011): 12-15.

Penzel, Fred. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders: A guide to getting well and stay well. Oxford University Press, 2000.

Swedo SE, Schapiro MB, Grady CL, et al. Cerebral Glucose Metabolism in Childhood-Onset Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1989;46(6):518-523. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1989.01810060038007.